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Hahn's twig catfish (Farlowella hahni) — Loricariidae

Hahn's twig catfish

Farlowella hahni
Family: Loricariidae

The Hahn's twig catfish (Farlowella hahni) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20.1 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay

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Description

The Hahn's twig catfish is a twig catfish (Loricariidae) from clear, flowing rivers of the Paraguay and Parana basin in South America. The species grows to about 15 cm and has an extremely slender, elongate, twig-shaped body with a long, flat snout and an inferior sucker mouth, perfectly camouflaged among twigs and roots. As a bottom-dweller it clings to wood and stones and rasps algae and biofilm. The male guards the eggs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hahn's twig catfish?

The Hahn's twig catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Hahn's twig catfish live?

The Hahn's twig catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. South America: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay

How big does the Hahn's twig catfish get?

The Hahn's twig catfish grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Hahn's twig catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Hahn's twig catfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Hahn's twig catfish (Farlowella hahni) — Loricariidae — 2
iNaturalist (no rights reserved)
Hahn's twig catfish (Farlowella hahni) — Loricariidae — 3
iNaturalist (no rights reserved)
Hahn's twig catfish (Farlowella hahni) — Loricariidae — 4
iNaturalist (no rights reserved)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Hahn's twig catfish sourced
Scientific name
Farlowella hahni
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.1 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Algae and plant material inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Farlowella

More from the family Loricariidae

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